SAVE THE DATE!

STEM Job Fair and Family Fun Event is coming to
Hickory Metro Convention Center on
April 16, 2025 from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM.

Building Engineers in K-5 Classrooms Conference-
Registration Now Open

The annual Building Engineers conference brings together the best in elementary STEM in the state of North Carolina each year.  This year’s conference will be held on Monday, May 5th, at the Greenville Convention Center.  This is an entirely FREE event for any NC educator interested in improving STEM outcomes in their elementary classrooms.  Registration and more information can be found here:  eventleaf.com/e/BE2025 .

Summer Accelerator Camps:
The NC School of Science and Mathematics is now accepting applications for Summer Accelerator Programs! Early Accelerator is a day program on the NCSSM-Morganton and Durham campuses and at the NC Center for Engineering Technologies (NCCET) in Hickory. Our residential programs are held on the NCSSM-Morganton and Durham campuses. We have day programs for middle school students at the NCCET in Hickory and online programs as well. Please forward this email to rising 5th – 12th grade students who may be interested in a week-long summer camp (Morganton, Durham or online) Financial aid is available for students who apply before February.  Apply Here

Summer Accelerator, sponsored by Dogwood Health Trust
Dogwood Health Trust has renewed funding for a FREE student program on our campus for 2 more years. We have openings for 60 middle and high school students to stay on our NCSSM-Morganton campus during the week of July 20-25th and take a summer course. This opportunity is only available to students in the Dogwood Health Trust area.We would really love to have all 19 areas of the DHT region represented. The students’ rooms, food, courses, supplies, and field trips will be covered by the grant. They just need to get to Morganton on July 20 and be picked up on July 25th. I’ve attached a flyer. The application closes on February 28th. there will be a selection process, but families will be notified of their selection status by mid March. Students may apply at this link.

Summer Staff Positions Available
We are also searching for summer staff. Positions range in education requirements from a high school diploma to a Bachelor’s degree. Employees receive a free room on campus and 3 meals/day for 5 days. Apply Here

NCSSM and InSTEP

Summer 2025 INstitute for Data Science Teaching

June 23-26, 2025

Attention teachers!

Join the Data Science Summer Institute at NCSSM-Morganton from June 23-26, 2025.

This FREE workshop, co-organized by NCSSM and the InSTEP project at NC State, is designed for middle school, high school, and community college teachers of all experience levels who are interested in learning how to teach introductory data science concepts. Participants will engage in interactive, hands-on sessions, collect data, and explore data science tools like CODAP and spreadsheets.

The institute will offer two groups,

• Novice track for those new to data science and
• Experienced track for those looking to delve deeper into programming tools like Python and R.

Travel stipends and lodging are provided thanks to generous support from Google.org and the InSTEP project.

Learn more and apply today to get your application in before the priority deadline of March 17, 2025.

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to collaborate with colleagues and learn how to bring data science to your classroom!

For more information, contact Dr. Hollylynne Lee at [email protected].

Want to stay connected to what’s happening with NC2ML?

Sign up for the NC2ML’s monthly High School news!

Did you know?

In 1995, the potato became the first vegetable to be grown in space!

What is a NC STEM School of Distinction?

The NC STEM Schools of Distinction (SSoD) program was developed to identify and recognize exemplary STEM schools and STEM programs in North Carolina. The application process rubric is built around NCDPI’s STEM Attributes, which describe the characteristics of a high-quality STEM school. STEM schools provide students at all grade levels with consistent opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills aligned with the needs of our current and emerging regional workforce.

Schools are recognized as meeting the Prepared or Model Level of Achievement. Regardless of status, schools exemplify outstanding leadership and learning, which empower keen creative thinking, reasoning and teamwork – the underpinnings of 21st-century skills. Schools recognized under Model Level of Achievement go even further by systemically interweaving science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into complementary coursework in the arts, career and technical education, English language arts, healthful living, and world history.

Request Virtual STEM Cards

Do you have young people in your life that could use some STEM inspiration? Request virtual cards written by STEM professionals to encourage them to continue their STEM journey.

You will receive the cards via email and can distribute as needed.
Request your cards.

STEM Next Flight Crew Application Now Open

STEM Next has launched a nationwide search for the Flight Crew— a group of youth advocates promoting the value of out-of-school STEM learning for all young people across the nation.  Youth ages 13-18, with experience in afterschool and summer STEM learning and an interest in public speaking, are encouraged to apply today.  (Deadline is March 12, 2025). Questions about the application process? Reach STEM Next’s team at f[email protected].

APPLY HERE

We have an excellent set of instructors:

• Dr. David Raymond, Associate Vice President for Security and Identity and the former director of the Virginia Cyber Range
• Kristi Rice, Cybersecurity Educator and winner of the Virginia Cybersecurity Educator Award 2021 and the Presidential Cybersecurity Educator Award 2021
• Warren Lucero, IT Manager for the Mineral and Mining Engineering Department

There is no cost to attend.  Attendees will receive a $1,000 honorarium, a travel allowance, 3 CEUs, books, and other surprise items. Thirteen teachers will be accepted. Additional details are here.

We will evaluate applications as they are received and let you know the results within one month of your application.  We will close applications once we have 13 teachers and 6 alternates.

If you have any questions, please reply to ibu…@vt.edu.

NC DNA Day – April 25, 2025

Would you like a scientist from one of NC’s leading research institutions to talk with your high school science classroom? Each year, NC DNA Day sends scientists to classrooms across NC. During the visit, the scientist will teach an interactive and engaging module on an aspect of genetics and biotechnology. In addition, the ambassador will talk with your students about his or her own research and about exciting careers in biotechnology! Please visit http://ncdnaday.org/sign-up/teachers/ to sign up to have a scientist speak with your high school classroom and present an engaging module covering a topic related to genetics and genomics!  What Teachers are Saying… “DNA Day has been a wonderful addition to my classroom for the past 3 years…   My students love it when they have “real life scientists” come talk to them.  It helps the students see that science is “real” and can be fun and interesting and is truly part of their actual life.”   “The presentation was fantastic, and my students thoroughly enjoyed themselves and were motivated and engaged!”  “This presentation completely supplemented what we’ve been doing in my classes this year.  It gave the students something to think about and demonstrated the relevance of what we’re learning.”  What Students are Saying… “I forgot how much one could do with a background in science. It opens doors that I can’t wait to discover.” “The ideas/concepts were presented in a colorful way yet understandable way to both teach us and keep our attention.” “Today I realized that there were many more career options in science than I realized before.” The application for NC DNA Day is open.  The deadline to request a visit is March 1, 2025.

Lead in Water Curriculum Support Materials

Why teach about lead in water in the classroom? Exposure to lead can have lifelong health impacts, and children are particularly susceptible to these harmful effects. Schools across the state are checking for lead hazards through the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program. A set of K-12 curriculum support materials, vetted by teachers, are designed to engage students, teachers, parents, and the school community in the lead exposure prevention work. Access the cross-curricular materials here: bit.ly/3CK-curriculum

These curriculum support materials are designed to engage students, teachers, parents, and the school community in the lead exposure prevention work that has been ongoing in North Carolina schools through the Clean Classrooms for Carolina Kids™ program. These materials were piloted with educators across North Carolina during the Spring of 2024, and are now fully available.